Head of Product Development Salary: £70,000 (Negotiable) Excellent Benefits Location: West Yorkshire A leading UK fabric and soft furnishing manufacturer is looking to appoint a Head of Product Development to lead their product innovation, technical compliance, and process development functions. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced Head of Product Development to play a central role in driving new product initiatives and technical excellence across a forward-thinking organisation with a strong reputation for quality, innovation, and sustainability. Key Responsibilities: Product Development & Innovation Full ownership and management of the New Product Development (NPD) process. Engage directly with customers to understand and adapt to their needs. Write detailed product specifications and lead testing/evaluation phases. Conduct customer visits and guide the transition of products from concept to scalable production. Oversee all costing activity and pre-production processes. Write specific procedures to ensure clarity and consistency across teams. Process Development Enhance existing plant capabilities and adapt machinery to support new developments. Take responsibility for capital expenditure procurement and machinery specification. Lead supplier visits and evaluate supplier capabilities. Manage installation and commissioning projects end-to-end. Develop SOPs, conduct risk assessments, and deliver training programmes. Technical Compliance & Quality Maintain ISO 14001 and SMETA accreditations, and write processes to support ISO 9001 certification. Ensure FR certification for all upholstery componentry. Uphold internal quality systems and engage with customers on technical issues and feedback. Verify external development projects and support product evolution based on insights. Procurement & Supply Chain Oversight Manage fibre contracts and take specific responsibility for spunbond materials. Oversee procurement of consumables, packaging, and spares. Make key decisions regarding repairs and machinery investments. Group-Level Responsibilities Act as a key liaison for insurance and group-wide health & safety systems. Support training across other business units within the group. Oversee product development in BF/carding facilities. Provide technical leadership across multiple entities within the group. About You: We are looking for a driven and hands-on Head of Product Development with a passion for continuous improvement and innovation. You will have extensive experience in technical leadership within manufacturing or materials-based sectors and the ability to lead cross-functional projects from concept through to commercialisation. You’ll be confident working with internal and external stakeholders, possess strong commercial acumen, and bring a detailed understanding of compliance frameworks including ISO standards and product safety regulations. This role offers the successful Head of Product Development the chance to influence the strategic direction of a growing business and be part of a wider group with exciting plans for expansion and investment. This vacancy is being advertised by POST– Recruitment Ltd, an Employment Agency. Visit our website for more details